A unique combination of the regenerative effects of Molecular Hydrogen and virtual reality is presented by H2 Global Group from Ostrava. "The principle is actually very simple. Inhalation of hydrogen gas enhances the effects of therapies aimed at brain activity while using virtual reality," says the company's president, David Maršálek, about the breakthrough innovation and another Czech patent.
„Patients are exposed to virtual situations that their brains accept as reality and react accordingly. Thanks to this, they can rehabilitate very intensively, but also get rid of anxiety, psychological disorders or increase their performance. The inhalation of molecular hydrogen further multiplies the effect of the therapy," explains Maršálek.
For many people, virtual reality is synonymous with playing computer games or experiencing virtual adventures. Nowadays, however, virtual reality (VR) has become an important part of treatment and rehabilitation in the healthcare field. A global innovation is the combination of virtual reality and hydrogen inhalation. Through inhalation, hydrogen gas enters the bloodstream and is distributed throughout the body, which, when combined with exercise, means therapy for a variety of diagnoses across a range of medical specialties. "The person is immersed in the virtual world and fully focused on it, thus detaching from external influences and getting into an environment that helps them," says VR specialist Jana Trdá, Ph.
World patent: Virtual reality with hydrogen inhalation
„As many Czech and international studies have already confirmed, hydrogen helps to restore the disturbed balance of the internal environment of cells caused by high levels of oxidative stress. Hydrogen very effectively eliminates the oxidative action of harmful free radicals. The combination of medical expertise and cutting-edge technology in conjunction with hydrogen can help patients, doctors and therapists alike. We have applied for a Czech patent for this unique therapy, which we will extend to the rest of the world," explains David Maršálek, President of H2 Global Group, explaining the connection of VR Life's virtual reality with the power of Molecular Hydrogen.
In collaboration with H2 Medical Technologies, VR Life has developed a module that focuses on hydrogen inhalation and works with their inhalers and hydrogen generators. "Studies have shown the positive effect of hydrogen on performance, endurance and subsequent rapid recovery after exercise," says Vice President of Science and Research at H2 Global Group, Professor Shigeo Ohta, a Japanese scientist. "The hydrogen inhaled into the lungs from our company's hydrogen generator also significantly speeds up the regeneration of the human body, for example in so-called post-covida, but it is also effective for many other diseases because of its anti-inflammatory effect. Hydrogen has also been shown to have a positive effect on patients with Alzheimer's disease. The combination of hydrogen and virtual reality can certainly bring unprecedented results!"
In a greenhouse or a tent?
Hydrogen therapy with VR can be done either sitting or standing. For this purpose, VR Life has created a bespoke environment for H2 Medical in a Victorian greenhouse full of flowers and the sounds of nature, which evokes the feeling of pleasant moist warm air. „The patient sees an animation of the lungs expanding as they inhale and contracting as they exhale, and starts breathing in a coordinated manner, thereby sucking large amounts of hydrogen into the lungs," explains Jana Trdá, adding that this is how hydrogen therapy takes place when the patient sits down, puts on a pair of goggles and inhales molecular hydrogen through a cannula. "We have developed a hydrogen tent specifically for the possibility of standing exercise, which we close and saturate the air with hydrogen. Here the person can then move around comfortably with the virtual reality."
Games that heal and motivate
According to Jana Trdá, the main advantage of virtual reality is the so-called gamification elements. „We use some game mechanisms to help motivate people during rehabilitation exercises. The basis of each exercise is designed by medical, physiotherapy and occupational therapy experts, and they then also test the correctness and effectiveness of the movements and the environment."
Patients generally feel comfortable while exercising in virtual reality and are able and willing to exercise longer and more than without virtual reality. „We get videos from our clients where you can see the difference when, for example, a patient with shoulder problems has to raise their arm in a traditional exercise and raises it to shoulder height at most, and then a video where they exercise in virtual reality and raise their arm much higher without realising it and then are surprised to see it themselves."
Currently, there are many expert studies from both foreign and Czech universities and hospitals that prove the beneficial effects of virtual reality on various diagnoses - after spinal injuries, after surgery or after a stroke. VR has found its application in psychotherapy in the treatment of phobias, anxiety, depression or eating disorders. It also appears to be an effective tool for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
The world's first hydrogen-powered VR park
„Based on the combination of VR and molecular hydrogen for the healthcare sector, the idea of creating a unique H2 VR Park in Ostrava as a place for relaxation and fun was born," says David Maršálek. „Here, children, adults and seniors alike will be able to enjoy the positive effects of this connection. Thanks to virtual reality, they will be able to go to the sea, to the mountains, try skydiving or visit foreign countries, and some of them will simply fulfil their lifelong dreams. All in one place, in safety and with the amazing effects of molecular hydrogen." Thanks to a significant contribution from the Ostrava investor, H2 VR Park Ostrava will welcome its first visitors as early as September 2023. After the H2 Bike, H2 VR Park is the next ambitious project of global significance in H2 City.
